Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is stepping up his rhetoric against Israel and suggesting Turkey could intervene on the Palestinian side with troops.
– We must be very strong so that Israel cannot do this (destroy, — ed.) to Palestine. Just as we entered Karabakh and Libya, we can do the same here (in Israel, — ed.). There's nothing we can't do. We must be very strong,” Erdogan said.
He was vague and gave no indication that he was considering any direct military action in the Israel-Gaza War.
However, his words highlight the growing hostility with Israel and could cause instability in Turkish financial markets as early as this week.
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The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded to Erdogan’s words
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded to Erdogan's remarks and said that the Turkish President is following the path of Saddam Hussein and is threatening to attack Israel. At the same time, he called on Erdogan to remember what happened there and how it ended.
Recall that Hussein's regime was overthrown by the US-led invasion in 2003, and Hussein himself was executed.
Relations between Turkey and Israel
During the war between Israel and Hamas, Erdogan recalled the Turkish ambassador and stopped trade with Israel, and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing genocide.
Turkey also sends humanitarian aid to Gaza and facilitates medical treatment for victims of the conflict, allowing them to receive assistance in Turkey.
Before the war, Turkey and Israel worked to mend their relationship after a decade of tension.
